Panaji: Goa government on Friday said that the those who are left unemployed due to current shut down of the mining industry in the State could be re-skilled and made them employable, State Skill Development Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Friday.
Rane was addressing a seminar on Reforms in Apprenticeship Act, 1961 and National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme on Friday in Panaji.
Referring to shutting down of Iron Ore mining industry which has created largescale unemployment in the state, Rane said that there is desperation for jobs amongst the mining dependents.
“What are you going to do? Are you going to sit in silence? They are desperate people as they don’t have any opening because whole of their life they have worked in mining sector,” the minister said addressing the gathering which was also participated by the industry players including members of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).
“So, what the government has to do is that it should step in. Reskill these people and make them employable. These are the opportunities that we need to look at. We need to train them so that their quality of life is maintained,” Rane said.
The mining industry in Goa has come to a standstill after Supreme Court quashed 88 iron ore leases in the coastal state.Central government has formed Group of Ministers including Union Home Minister Amit Shah to find out solution for the crisis faced by Iron Ore mining industry in Goa.
Speaking futher, Rane said that Goa wants to be become international skilling destination with the help of industrial players in the coastal state.
He said that the efforts are being made to ensure that by the end of the tenure of current government, which is remaining for two and half years, Goa will start a process to ensure that the state has best skilled people.
Rane said that the state government has a role to play in creating skilling centre of international standard.
“If we are able to create skilling hub in Goa, then we will be able to do lot for the people of the state and neighbouring areas,” he added.
